Christmas on Bear Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Christmas on Bear Mountain" |
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"Christmas on Bear Mountain" comic book cover. Cover art by an unknown artist, probably Dan Gormley.
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| Story code | W OS 223-02 |
| Story | Carl Barks |
| Ink | Carl Barks |
| Date | 1947 |
| Hero | Donald Duck |
| Pages | 20 |
| Layout | 4 rows per page |
| Appearances | Donald Duck Huey, Dewey and Louie Scrooge McDuck (debut) |
| First publication | Four Color Comics #178 December, 1947 |
"Christmas on Bear Mountain" is a famous Donald Duck comic story from 1947. It was created by the legendary comic artist Carl Barks. This story is super important because it's the very first time Scrooge McDuck ever appeared! Scrooge later became one of the most famous characters in comic books worldwide.
When Scrooge first showed up in "Christmas on Bear Mountain," he wasn't quite the same rich duck we know today. He had a beard and glasses, and he leaned on a cane. He lived all alone in a giant house. Scrooge was a bit grumpy, saying things like, "Everybody hates me, and I hate everybody!" But don't worry, he changed a lot in later stories.
Contents
The Story of Christmas on Bear Mountain
This section will explain what happens in the comic.
Christmas Troubles for Donald
As the story begins, Donald Duck doesn't have enough money to celebrate Christmas with his nephews. His nephews are Huey, Dewey and Louie. Suddenly, they get a surprising invitation from Donald's rich uncle, Scrooge McDuck. Scrooge invites them to his cabin on Bear Mountain.
Scrooge's Tricky Plan
Scrooge is a bit bored and wants to have some fun. He plans to dress up as a bear to scare Donald and test his courage. Meanwhile, Donald and the boys go to find a Christmas tree. While they are gone, a real bear cub sneaks into the cabin! Soon after, the cub's mother comes looking for it.
Bears in the Cabin
The real bears scare Donald and the nephews out of the cabin. The bears then enjoy all the food inside the house. The mother bear even falls asleep right in front of the fireplace.
Donald's Brave Moment (or Not!)
The Ducks come up with a plan to get the bears out. Donald is supposed to tie the mother bear's legs together. At the same time, Huey, Dewey, and Louie try to catch the cub. Donald tries his best but fails to tie the bear's feet. He faints and falls onto the bear's arm, looking like he's just sleeping there.
Scrooge's Surprise
Scrooge then walks in and sees the boys chasing the cub. He thinks they are incredibly brave! Then he spots Donald "asleep" with the big bear. Scrooge believes Donald is fearless and doesn't know what it means to be scared. Scrooge quietly leaves without being seen. The next day, he invites Donald and his nephews to his mansion for Christmas dinner.
How the Story Was Made
This part explains how Carl Barks created "Christmas on Bear Mountain."
Why Scrooge Was Created
In 1962, Carl Barks shared how he came up with Scrooge. He just needed a rich uncle for his Christmas story. Donald needed a place to go on Bear Mountain, so Barks invented Uncle Scrooge as the cabin owner. Barks didn't plan for Scrooge to be a regular character at first.
Building the Story
Barks explained more in 1975. He wanted to create a Christmas story. He thought about the classic "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. This made him think of an old, rich uncle. Ideas for the story just kept coming to him.
He needed a reason for the ducks to go to the cabin. So, he thought Scrooge would want to test Donald's bravery. This led to the idea of the bear. Barks said it was like sewing pieces of a shirt together. He just kept finding the best jokes and situations to fit into the story.
What Came After: Scrooge's Legacy
This story was very important for the future of Disney comics.
Scrooge Becomes a Star
After "Christmas on Bear Mountain," Carl Barks realized Scrooge was a very interesting character. He wanted to tell more stories about him. This led to "The Old Castle's Secret" in 1948. From then on, many more amazing Scrooge stories were created.
Inspiring New Adventures
This comic also inspired other artists. For example, Don Rosa created "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck" Part 12. Rosa's story happens right after Christmas Eve in "Christmas on Bear Mountain." In Rosa's version, Huey, Dewey, and Louie officially meet Scrooge for the first time. Donald, however, remembers meeting Scrooge before. Don Rosa decided to draw Scrooge with his more famous look, even though it was different from his first appearance.
See also
- "Christmas on Bear Mountain" was the title story for Fantagraphics' The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library Vol. 5 - Donald Duck: "Christmas on Bear Mountain"
- List of Disney comics by Carl Barks
